Happy holidays

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

We have almost come to the end of 2010 and I hope this year has been a prosperous one for your business. For those businesses caught up in the events in the South Island this year, our thoughts have been with you throughout and we wish everyone a successful 2011.

For many of you the work speeds up at this time of year but the redline team is going to take a short break. We will be back mid-January to post more articles online and to work on a new issue of the magazine (out at the end of March - subscribe today). But in our absence don’t stop commenting, each time you comment you’ll be entered into the draw to win a $1000 Prezzy Card, we will reply on our return.

Happy trading everyone and we hope that you have a very merry Christmas and a fantastic New Year.
Our friends at Kiwibank are busy helping their business customers succeed. They have teamed up with Business and Economic Research Limited (BERL Economics) to produce monthly economic updates relevant to independent businesses. We’d like to refer our friend to you, so you can benefit from the same information that Kiwibank’s business customers are getting.

This month they report that ‘job numbers look promising’, ‘export performance sending positive signals’ and discuss the domestic financial situation for businesses in an unsettled global climate.

You can sign up to receive their newsletter to ensure you don’t miss out on some valuable information for your business.

Supporting local businesses

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

I think it's fair to say that although most things are available to us at a click of a mouse (from near or far) it is seen as more socially responsible to seek and use local produce. Whether it’s TV celeb Gordon Ramsey pointing out that local ingredients are the best, or kiwi companies advertising that products are kiwi made. ‘Local’ stands for quality, supporting your area’s economy and taking care of people, communities and businesses that you value.

But with an online global network it can sometimes be difficult to find smaller businesses and why should your customers search worldwide when you’re just down the road? What does Jo Blogs Ltd know about Mrs Smith around the corner that you don’t? You just need someone to tell Mrs Smith that you’re there and a recommendation has more merit if it’s from a local.

Whilst we love our neighbours there are more efficient ways of getting recommendations in this digital age than a chin-wag over the fence (although that’s always nice), after all we are a bunch of people that are used to researching online. We know that word-of-mouth is the best form of advertising (read this article) and that to go ‘viral’ means great things. But where do you start?

Stuff reports that "Digital communications and social media has become a facilitator of word-of-mouth marketing, as it's now much easier to refer. Those conversations used to be exclusively around the water cooler in the office, or the barbecue on the weekend but they've now extended into social media tools”. But do you have the time and know-how?

Someone local (us) has realised this and is about to launch something that should get independent businesses, targeting local markets, quite excited. Localist will go to market next year, initially in the Auckland region, aggregating local business information online, building connections between communities and businesses, using social media.

For consumers it’s an opportunity to recommend ‘what’s good around here’ and a first port of call for finding relevant and current information on local businesses, activities and events in the community. For you it means a greater local presence and an opportunity to find customers nearby and expand local relationships.

So whilst this is a ‘heads up’ you can start getting involved now. Right now you can find out more and, crucially, register your business contact details for free. Then tell us here, on Facebook or Twitter (@localistnz) what you think of this service.

Web special!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

You will have seen in your November issue of redline magazine that we intend to give special offers to our redline readers! You will only read about these offers here at redline online, so keep checking back for the latest deals!

First five comments win ParcelPost Postage Included Bags!

Tell us what web specials we could offer that would help your business and keep you coming back to redline online.

Simply comment on this post with your suggestion for a web special, remember to put your email address in the ‘email’ field and hit submit*. Then we will contact the first five individuals to arrange delivery of a pack of 10 C4 ParcelPost Postage Included Bags ($50.00 RRP). So helpful as Christmas is so near.

If you aren’t one of the first five then comment anyway as you can help shape future web specials. Plus, you’ll be entered into our Prezzy Card competition for your trouble. And if you’re bursting to get your hands on some ParcelPost Postage Included Bags then make use of the existing online discount (online discount ends 17 January 2011).

Remember, don’t delay sending your parcels if you want to get them there in time for Christmas.

*Terms and conditions apply.